The class template std::packaged_task wraps any Callable target (function, lambda expression, bind expression, or another function object) so that it can be invoked asynchronously. Its return value or exception thrown is stored in a shared state which can be accessed through std::future objects.

Just like std::function, std::packaged_task is a polymorphic, allocator-aware container: the stored callable target may be allocated on heap or with a provided allocator.